FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT WILSON PICKETT - PAGE 5

Johnny Sayles, 56, a "hard-soul" singer with several hit records who sandwiched his performing career around another career as a guard at Stateville prison, died Tuesday in Hazel Crest. Mr. Sayles' hits recorded here in the 1960s included, "Don't Turn Your Back on Me," "You Did Me Wrong" and "Nothing But Hard Rocks," said Bob Pruter, rhythm-and-blues editor for Goldmine, a magazine for record collectors. Mr. Sayles performed at Chicago's Blues Fest and appeared in recent years in North Side clubs such as BLUES Etc., River West and Rosa's Blues Lounge.

Sharon Jones more than lived up to the extended introduction she received Friday at a sold-out Vic. With her backing band the Dap-Kings calling out names of songs in manner that recalled 60s soul revues, the singer swaggered onto the stage with the proud confidence of a Muscle Shoals legend that owns a string of popular hits. Never mind that Jones' throwback music operates outside mainstream tastes. Until recently a cult phenomenon, the former prison corrections officer is gaining attention for bringing class, sophistication and honesty back to R&B.

"I`m realistic enough about my own solo career so that I don`t anticipate having the sort of success I achieved with the Eagles," Glenn Frey said. The former Eagle has just released "Soul Searchin` " (MCA), his first album in four years and his third solo album since the 1981 breakup of the Eagles, the quintessential California rock band of the 1970s. Though Frey has remained on good terms with his former writing partner, Don Henley, the two have no plans to resume their collaboration.

Stephen King, an acknowledged master of the macabre, submitted yet another horror classic on Wednesday night--his singing and guitar playing. But if you're King, and it's Halloween night, why not masquerade as a rock musician? King and the rest of the Rock Bottom Remainders, named after a fate that every author hopes to avoid, visited Chicago to raise money for Chicago Scores, a 2-year-old afterschool program for kids. A surprisingly full Park West pointed to the effectiveness of their mission, as people ponied up $75 for the roughly 90-minute concert, or $250 for a meet and greet with the group of heavy-hitters.

You could make a good case that pop music has given scant attention to some topics through the years, but you certainly can`t accuse pop of neglecting working men and women. From "Working on the Highway," by that popular singer known as "The Boss," all the way back to Eddie Cochran's depiction of a heartless honcho in "Summertime Blues," pop has taken up the cause of the country's toilers. Who can forget, for example, Chuck Berry's depiction of a harried gas station attendant in "Too Much Monkey Business"?

Unsung heroes abound on the Chicago blues circuit--and Jimmy Johnson definitely qualifies for such a distinction. Since the mid-1970s, Johnson's stinging guitar and soaring vocals have consistently delighted local blues fans (before that, he worked the R&B side of the idiomatic street). His domestic discography to date is slim but select, with four albums (including a recent set for Verve) to his credit. At B.L.U.E.S. on Friday evening, Johnson displayed his versatility in front of a trio as reliable as their boss.

For the second edition of its reality-based, you-too-can-be-an-ESPN-anchor program, the Worldwide Leader is airing episodes at 11:30 p.m. each Tuesday. Yawn. Now you know why they call it "Dream Job." It's a little curious that ESPN would bury original, previously unaired programming at the Wilson Pickett time slot for much of the country. When the first season of "Dream Job" premiered in February, the show aired at 9 p.m. in Chicago. Has the show, which last winter created a decent amount of buzz (remember "Ramalama-hamdam?"

They hurtled down the moonlit highway like two fuel-injected furies from the deep, their speedometers climbing past 70, then 80, then 90. The growl of their hopped-up engines split the cool night air. They were locked in an insane battle for pride, and it was too late now for either to pull out. For months, Danny had endured the taunts of Mike. "What's that stupid heap you`re driving?" "Looks like a wimpmobile to me." "Does Mommy know you`ve got her car?" Tonight the taunting would end. Tonight Danny would show Mike, show the world, what he and his car could do. Tonight was the race.

`It took us 10 years to bring effective competition to long-distance. It could take just as long for us to bring effective competition to local service.' - MCI Communications Corp. Chairman Bert C. Roberts, on his company's announcement Tuesday that MCI hopes to break up what Roberts called a costly "stranglehold" on local phone service, making it more competitive. UNITED BLOOD SERVICES SPOKESWOMAN LEE CUMOR, ON THE NEED FOR BLOOD DONORS IN THE CHICAGO AREA: `When it gets down this low, it's not a situation that can be remedied overnight.

Even though he's been around music his whole life, there was a lot of music Robert Randolph didn't know. But to be fair, when T. Bone Burnett's in the room, everyone's at a disadvantage. As an archivist, producer and musician, Burnett is regularly the guy pushing the buttons on impressive, cool projects. Randolph grew up playing church music. But despite being embraced by and playing with some of the best blues players today, he didn't know as much about that. So Burnett set about educating, through field recordings and old records.